Oxfam Community Aid Abroad
Diamond Valley Group

C/- 88 Silver St. Eltham 3095   email: dvoxfam@optusnet.com.au   web URL: http://members.optushome.com.au/dvcaa

November 2004                      Group's Newsletter                    Page 2          Home

Group Meeting
Friday Nov. 12th 8.00pm


The year has flown and here we are with our Annual General Meeting coming up! During the meeting we will reflect on where we've been in 2004, as well as planning for 2005. Please consider which role/s in the Group you would like to take on in 2005. We will be appointing these roles on the night, but will require you to come along prepared to put up your hand for a role you will play. Following are the roles we will need to allocate on the night:

President, Vice President, Treasurer, Publicity Office, Minutes Secretary, Fair Trade Tea/Coffee Coordinator
Refreshments

At our November meeting, Sophie Miller will be joining us from ETWA (East Timor Women Australia), a volunteer group based in Melbourne. ETWA is committed to supporting women's socio-economic development in an independent East Timor. Sophie will be telling us about the Veteran Women's Co-operative in Dili, which provides veteran women, widows and their families with looms, yarn, sewing machines and market access for their products. Current Co-operative efforts focus around helping the group develop quality control, business, administration and marketing skills. Sophie will bring along some samples of the women's work for sale. The colourful hand-woven bookmarks that the women make are beautiful and will make great Christmas gifts, as they are light and can fit in an envelope. 

Bookfair 2004


Our Bookfair in November was a huge success. The $7000 we raised will support the Sudan emergency work and the Mining Ombudsman work. Well done to Beth who very capably organised everything (and everyone) without a hitch. The following is from Beth:
My most grateful thanks to all those who helped make our Bookfair such a HUGE success for 2004, from those (who we can't really thank) who gave the books, to the collectors, sorters, movers, buyers and clean-er-uppers.
But special thanks goes to that Magnificent Pair of Husbands - yet again! - Brian Gill and Ron Lewin for fetching and carrying both tables and books. We really can only have book fairs when these two are available. I'm not sure if Rod Millard walked, cycled or trained it to work on the week preceding the Bookfair, but his old Kombi "Lew" with Don Brown's sign on it, parked most auspiciously on Main Road for that week, was, I'm sure, our greatest "coup" in advertising. Thanks to Don too for all the other great signage. And besides the Magnificent Husbands, were the Magnificent wives - Jan and Heather, for unstinting and consistent support in the set up and on the day itself. So - congratulations to us all. Anyone want the job for 2006?? I'm happy to be honorary consultant. Beth P.

Group Christmas BBQ
Friday Dec 10th 6.00pm


Yes, there's nothing better to finish the year off than to throw a few prawns on the barbie, uncork a bottle of white from the Yarra Valley and join with fellow Diamond Valley Oxfamers on a lazy summer's evening relaxing and wondering where the year went. Beth has very kindly offered for us to crash at her home again (thank you Beth!!). More details at the November meeting.

Walk Against Want 2005


On Sunday 6 March 2005 we will be holding the Yarra Valley Walk Against Want. Cathy Robie has very kindly agreed to coordinate the proceedings once again following a fantastic effort in 2004. There are some exciting possibilities for a new route in 2005, taking in Eltham Town Square and the new bridge over the river. Both options will give the Walk more public exposure. Folk wishing to have a hand in planning next year's Walk are now being asked to form a committee. The committee will have its first meeting on Friday November 12, 6.30pm at the Eltham Living and Learning Centre (prior to our November Group Meeting). Being on the committee is fun and rewarding as the arrangements for the Walk are gradually pulled together. Would you like to be involved? There are lots of little, as well as big things that need to be done and the Walk won't go ahead if we don't have sufficient helpers in the planning phrase. Please come along to the first meeting even if you're unsure whether it's for you. See you there!

2004 Rotary Eltham Town Festival


The Rotary Eltham Town Festival will be held on Sunday 14 November (two days after our November meeting). We will have a stall on the Sunday. At our November meeting we will be passing a roster around to ensure the load is light for everyone. If you can help out for two hours - that's great! If you're unable to make it to our November meeting, but would like to help out on our stall, please call Ant ASAP on 9439 4891.